Pauli Murray: A Personal and Political Life by Troy R. Saxby

• DOI: 10.1353/soh.2021.0154
• Publication Date: 2021-12-05T14:05:46Z
• Authors: Erin D. Chapman
• Keywords: Personal life; Viewpoints; Nonconformity

Reviewed by: Pauli Murray: A Personal and Political Life by Troy R. Saxby Erin D. Chapman Life. By Saxby. (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2020. Pp. xx, 353. $34.95, ISBN 978-1-4696-5492-8.) distinguishes his biography Murray from the many works on legal scholar, priest, poet, transgender icon emphasizing book’s focus Murray’s inner life, personal relationships, evolving political viewpoints. Whereas other life career address these topics while also providing a rich history social movements, organizations, activists whose campaigns insights influenced own, Saxby’s concentrates difficult journey undertook in effort to disprove voices—familial, social, psychological—that doubted her worth. declares that “focus is more tilted how felt, thought, acted rather than world later interpreted, benefited from, work” (p. xvi). According Saxby, “crowning success” among slew accomplishments “collection papers” she had foresight create maintain for posterity. Although chose not publicly disclose lifelong “conflict” with homosexual desire gender nonconformity remained alive, left wealth diaries, correspondence, notes aid “future biographers” interest anticipated finds origins crippling self-doubt, tendency overwork, quick temper, dedication respectability, gendered sexual childhood. She was daughter proud but impoverished Black southern middle class, darkest child extremely light-skinned family yet lightest peers segregated school attended small-town Carolina. When child, mother may have committed suicide, father lost mind, which he incarcerated mental hospital where murdered an orderly. Constantly afraid she, too, might grow up be mentally unstable, doggedly pursued educational advancement conventional success both redeem family’s tainted heritage counter racism sexism plagued her. Persistently arguing “human rights are indivisible,” refused prioritize battle against over 211). In one chapter, discusses applications this axiom through scholarship President’s Commission Status Women, American Civil Liberties Union, Alabama case White v. Crook (1966), collaboration Betty Friedan cofounders National Organization Women. However, declines rehearse nuances arguments complex mid-twentieth-century U.S. women’s movement. Instead, directs readers works, such as Serena Mayeri’s Reasoning Race: Feminism, Law, Rights Revolution (Cambridge, Mass., 2011) Rosalind Rosenberg’s Jane Crow: The (New York, 2017). Addressing perennial “conflict,” refrains “applying current labels or welcomed” 67). Whether out compliance heteropatriarchy generation refusal [End Page 750] expose herself further derogation possible criminal prosecution, presented represented woman adult professional life. respects choice, referring using female pronouns throughout book. purporting explore significant person, robust analysis engagement contemporary psychological, medical, popular literature sexuality identity seems warranted. offered detailed intersecting racial sociopolitical structures twentieth-century United States. emphasizes diversity human experience, concluding, “Murray’s writings. . assert all people right occupy historical record humanity benefits recording voices” 294). George...